24 Oct 2019

John Green – the undisputed King of YA - once said, “Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood”. During the whirlwind that is teen life, jam-packed with friends, family, mischief, drama, crushes, heartbreak, assessments and parties, all we really need is a good story to help us make sense of our weird and wonderful world.

In celebration of John Green’s first-ever novel Looking for Alaska being adapted into a brand new series which has just dropped to Stan, and in honour of the main characters being major bookworms, here are some book quotes to live ya teenage years by. I certainly have.

 

1. “True love will triumph in the end – which may or may not be a lie, but if it is a lie, it’s the most beautiful lie we have.”

- John Green, Looking for Alaska

Heartbreak is a constant companion in your teen years, whether big or small. We’re going to fall for someone who doesn’t like us back, be the second choice, or just be left on read… It’s easy to think, ‘that’s it, there’s no one for me, *love doesn’t exist*.’ This quote reminds us that it will all eventually make sense and come together – and if that’s not true, it’s still a magical thought.

 

2. “What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person.”

- John Green, Paper Towns

Now, this one stuck out to me – I can’t be the only person who builds up people so much in my mind, romanticising them to the point that they are no longer human, but rather some majestic creature. This is dangerous people; you’re only going to set yourself up for disappointment when you realise they are – in fact – flawed. In the end, we are all only human and just doing the best we can.

 

3. “Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody.”

- Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Maybe you’re finishing high school or moving cities for university. Things are changing and it’s scary and you kind of wish time would just stand still. But the reality is the world keeps spinning. The best thing you can do is embrace this fact and face new challenges as they come, head-on.

 

4. “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

I’m one of those people that believes that everything happens for a reason. And whilst this may not be true, it at least allows me to see the positives in a negative situation. Similarly, when you really want something, putting all your positive energy towards it could mean the universe will reward you for all those good vibes. It’s at least worth a shot.

 

5. “I shiver, thinking how easy it is to be totally wrong about people – to see one tiny part of them and confuse it for the whole.”

- Lauren Oliver, Before I Fall

We tend to forget that people have a lot more going on in their lives than what they show to others. We need to remember that we don’t know what’s really happening in their world, so never judge and always be kind. This book actually has a movie adaptation which I'm obsessed with, you can watch it here.  

 

6. “You could rattle the stars. You could do anything if only you dared.”

- Sarah. J. Maas, Throne of Glass

As teens, we are constantly told what we should and shouldn’t do, or what we are and aren’t capable of. This quote reminds us that you can do whatever you want –  it’s your life and you’re the one that gets to choose how you want to live it.  

 

7. “When adults say, ‘Teenagers think they are invincible’ with that sly, stupid smile on their faces, they don't know how right they are. We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably broken. We think that we are invincible because we are.”

― John Green, Looking for Alaska

John Green never fails to remind us to make the most of our teen years. Your youth is the best time to make mistakes, so live your life with no fears and don’t hold back on doing the things you want.

Personally, Looking for Alaska has always been my favourite John Green novel, and I’ve fallen in love with this story all over again through Stan’s brand new series.

If you don’t know much about the story, Looking for Alaska authentically depicts all of those highs and lows of teenage life and will make you feel inspired, nostalgic and understood. Fun fact: John Green also helped produce the show, so you can guarantee that it’s going to get you hooked.

Every single episode of Looking for Alaska is out right now, and Stan has got you covered with a free 30-day trial, so jump over here to start watching!